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Brief overview Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi

It’s definitely more than Dubai’s little sister. Abu Dhabi has long been coming into its own with spectacular hotels, big bold attractions and a lively nightlife scene. Its Corniche waterfront is a bustling affair day and night, lined by a white sand beach and numerous cafés and bars. Developments on Yas Island are never ending,

from Ferrari World to a new shopping mall, and the vast Grand Mosque always impresses with its ornate, brilliant-white structure. Nature is close by with the desert’s rolling dunes, the Eastern Mangroves conservation area, championship golf courses and the Arabian Gulf for swimming, sailing and surfing.

Flight and accommodation

Country information

Country overview

With its man-made islands, opulent hotels and iconic buildings, the United Arab Emirates has always been a show-stopping, headline-grabbing destination, offering an intriguing blend of Islamic culture and modernity. Explore the country’s luxurious side and be pampered at the reams of five-star abodes and spas, flex your

credit card with world-class designer shopping, or dine at gourmet restaurants. Alternatively, visit the nation’s less showy attractions including the buzzing Creek with traditional abra boats, and a vista dotted with mosques and markets, or the Falcon Hospital where tours teach visitors how to care for the UAE’s royal birds.

Geography

The UAE sits at the top right hand corner of the Arabian Peninsular bordered by Oman in the east and Saudi Arabia in the south. All of the Emirates bar one sit on the on the Persian Gulf opposite Iran, and cover a distance spanning 650 km (404 miles) along the coastline. Fujairah is the only Emirate that sits on the Gulf of Oman. The UAE covers an area of 83,600 sq km (32,300 sq miles), Abu Dhabi covers 87% of the country’s land mass, which has a consistent terrain of mainly desert. This is home to native animals such as gazelles and the Arabian oryx, which was reintegrated into the area 40 years after it was hunted to extinction. Whilst 80% of the land mass is desert, other ecological terrain includes mountain areas and marine coastal areas.

The highest recorded point in the country is an unnamed peak stretching 1,910m (6266ft) high near the Jabal Bil Ays in Oman (but within the UAE border).

The lowest point is at the Persian Gulf. The country only has 3.8% forest and woodlands due to the arid conditions. In an oasis is it common to find date palms, acacia and eucalyptus trees. Sand storms are common in the UAE, and this can cause traffic on the roads due to the poor visibility.

Off the coast of Fujairah the waters are rich in calcium carbonate, and make the ideal breeding ground for coral reefs such as alveopora coral, African pillow coral, brain coral, raspberry-rice coral and more. The marine life in the area is rich due to these diverse coral formations and species in the area include Arabian carpet sharks, areloate groupers, black-finned melon butterfly fish, blacktip reef sharks, parrot fish and even whale sharks, which can be spotted by snorkellers and divers between the months of April and July.

General knowledge

Key facts

Population: 5473972

Population Density (per sq km): 65

Capital: Abu Dhabi.

Language

Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken and used as a second language in commerce.

Currency

UAE Dirham (AED, also written as Dhs) = 100 fils. Notes are in denominations of AED1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of AED1, and 50, 25, 10 and 5 fils (10 and 5 fils coins are rarely used).

The Dirham is tied to the US Dollar.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs are widespread.

General business opening hours

The official working week is 0900-1700 Sunday to Thursday, though many government offices have limited hours – most are open between Saturday-Wednesday 0800-1300 and 1500/1600-1800/1900, Thurs 0730-1200. Many offices are closed every afternoon during the month of Ramadan.

Country information

Below are Public Holidays for the January 2015-December 2015 period.

Note: Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given below are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last up to several days, depending on the region.

Flight and accommodation

Calendar of events

Abu Dhabi Golf Championship

Welshman Jamie Donaldson will face three of the world’s top 11 players when he defends his Abu Dhabi Golf Championship title. Other players include Rory McIlroy, the world number three; Justin Rose, the reigning US Open champion and world number five; Luke Donald, the world number 11, and Matteo Manassero, the world number 28, all hoping to grab the US$ 2.7million prize fund.

Abu Dhabi Festival

Sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation this festival is a celebration of music and art and brings together local and international classical and jazz performers to promote cultural awareness.

Abu Dhabi Shopping Festival

1 – 31 March 2015

Venue: Throughout the city.

Shopping seems to be the national pass time in the UAE, and as such shopping festivals are big business. The Abu Dhabi Shopping Festival, held every year in March, is one of the best. It attracts huge crowds to the city, with shoppers looking to find great bargains and all manner of special offers in the city’s luxurious air-conditioned malls. Gold jewellery, electronic goods, fashion clothes and perfumes are particularly popular.

UAE Desert Challenge

Expert desert drivers from around the globe congregate each year for this annual cross-country rally race, beginning in Abu Dhabi and finishing in Dubai. It’s one of the premier international off-road races in the world. Join in or watch as vehicles spectacularly go throttling over dunes.

Accession Day

6 August 2015

Venue: Various venues in the city.

Commemorates the accession of the ruler of Abu Dhabi and features lively celebrations, feasting and fireworks.

All information subject to change. Please check the dates on the relevant event organizer’s website.

Climate & best time to visit United Arab Emirates

The UAE draws sunseekers from all corners of the globe due to the fact that it is blessed with year-round sunshine, blue skies and very little rain. The best time to visit is between October and April, when temperatures hover at a pleasant 25-28°C (77-82°F) and the Gulf is perfect for swimming. The hottest time of year is during the sweltering summer months of June to September, when humidity can seem unbearable and temperatures can skyrocket to 45°C (113°F). The country is well prepared for hot weather, however, with temperature controlled swimming pools and permanently air-conditioned hotels, malls, taxis and metros. Rain and wind can occur in the months of January.

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Phone calls & Internet

Telephone/Mobile Telephone

Dialing Code: +971

Telephone

Main area codes: Abu Dhabi 2; Ajman, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain 6; Al-Ain 3; Dubai 4; Fujairah 9; Jebel Ali 4; and Ras al-Khaimah 7. There is a good local telephone network. Telephone calls within each state are free.

Flight and accommodation

Shopping in Abu Dhabi

Key Areas

Shopping is generally concentrated in malls, souks and hotels. In the city, head to the World Trade Centre Central Market which has 250 shops selling perfumes, art, clothing and more, and explore Hamdan Street where you can bargain in the shops in and around Hamdan Centre.

Markets

The Fish Souk at Mina Zayed near the port makes for a lively morning, and across the road is the colourful Al Mina Fruit and Vegetable Souk. Nearby on Mina Road is Abu Dhabi’s Carpet Souk, great for picking up Arabic majlis-style cushions. For authentic handicrafts, visit Heritage Village (near Marina Mall, Breakwater), the Souk at Central Market and Shangri-La’s Souk Qaryat Al Beri.

Shopping Centres

Abu Dhabi Mall, Khalidiyah, Marina Mall, Al Wahda and the Galleria (Al Falah Street) are some of the main malls. For gold, head to Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre and look out for newly opened Yas Mall, the UAE’s second largest mall with 450 shops.

Flight and accommodation

Traveller etiquette

Social Conventions

Though the UAE is fairly modern, it is an Islamic country and women may feel more comfortable when dressed modestly. The UAE is fairly liberal and foreign women can dress as they please, however covering the shoulders and knees is a requirement in public areas like shopping centres and also during periods of religious significance. Men are also expected to dress with respect. Homosexuality and adultery are both illegal and while non-married couples aren’t lawfully permitted to stay together in the same hotel room, it is common practice and rarely enforced.

Alcohol is tolerated, with non-Muslims allowed to drink alcohol in the cities’ plentiful hotel bars and restaurants (except for Sharjah). Tourists are permitted to bring four litres of alcohol into the country, though under 20s are not allowed to drink alcohol or buy cigarettes.

It is illegal for everyone to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours of the holy month of Ramadan, and on the day or eve of days of national importance, alcohol isn’t sold and bars are shut. As in all Muslim countries, it’s best to keep displays of affection private – kissing or embracing in public is not only considered disrespectful, it could lead to police caution or even arrest. Holding hands is generally fine, but swearing, rude gestures and drink driving are all punishable by imprisonment. Drugs are a strict no-no and could land you in serious trouble. It’s worth checking what medicine and painkillers you bring into the country, as even some common pain medications like codeine are prohibited.

Flight and accommodation

Health

Main emergency number: 999

Food & Drink

Though the water in the UAE will taste different, it is safe to drink. However, bottle water is so cheap to buy in the emirates that most visitors opt to drink it instead of tap water. A 500ml bottle of water costs between AED1-6, while a one-gallon bottle of water costs approximately AED12. Food standards are high in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, both of which have international cuisine and world-class restaurants. Care should be taken in smaller desert towns, where hygiene restrictions are not enforced as often. Be aware when eating meat, particularly spit cooked shawarma (kebab) meat, that has been sitting in the stifling summer sun for hours.

Other Risks

Vaccinations against tuberculosis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, polio, measles and diphtheria are sometimes advised when travelling to this region. If you are snorkelling or scuba diving and get a coral cut, it is advisable to disinfect the wound immediately to avoid infection, as the coral contain a high amount of bacteria. If disinfectant is not readily available, a course of antibiotics may be required.